Indiana Department of Transportation

Amtrak's Hoosier State and long-distance Cardinal services combine to provide daily roundtrip passenger rail service between Indianapolis and Chicago, which includes intermediate stops in Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensselaer and Dyer. For schedule information and to purchase tickets, please visit Amtrak's Cardinal/Hoosier State web page.

Public Funding

Congress voted in 2008 to end federal support for the Hoosier State and other Amtrak routes of less than 750 miles. Governor Mike Pence announced in October 2013 that the state of Indiana had partnered with Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Rensselaer, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County and Beech Grove to fund Hoosier State operating and capital costs not covered with ticket revenue.

Local communities with stops along the Hoosier State line are financing more than half of the monthly payments in cash or in-kind contributions. The communities that are contributing funding have a vested interest in improving performance and ensuring accountability for the tax dollars being invested. The Indiana Department of Transportation and its community partners have committed to reexamining the funding model for a long-term contract agreement.

INDOT is negotiating a long-term contract for Amtrak to continue operating the Hoosier State with portions of the service being provided by INDOT contractors. . INDOT is negotiating renewal of the service on behalf of the state, Beech Grove, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Rensselaer, Tippecanoe County and West Lafayette.

Amtrak Agreement

INDOT’s current funding agreement with Amtrak maintains the preexisting Hoosier State service. This includes a monthly credit to ferry rolling stock between Chicago and Amtrak’s heavy maintenance facility in Beech Grove. A short-term agreement and contract extension have continued service through April 1, 2015.

Cost Benefit Analysis

At the request of its partners in the legislature, INDOT funded a cost benefit analysis that studied the impacts of discontinuing the service, keeping the status quo or improving the service. Improvement options include variations in frequencies and departure/arrival times.

INDOT supports a multi-modal strategy to address the current and future surface transportation needs of the state of Indiana and Indiana taxpayers. In general, INDOT will satisfactorily maintain, support and operate our transportation infrastructure at the lowest cost to taxpayers. INDOT provides cost-effective transportation solutions to reduce traffic congestion, improve public safety, improve air quality, encourage economic development and encourage job growth.